“Let the cat out of the bag” is a phrase that finds its origins in the living of farmers and cowboys who went to purchase piglets or other small, valuable animals at a fair or livestock sale. A dishonest seller has been known to allow the farmer to pick out a piglet, pay for it, and then replace the piglet with a cat when he hands the buyer the bag that was supposed to have a piglet in it.
Why? Because in the days before it was common to spay and neuter pets, cats were worth less than a dime a dozen, but a piglet was worth a whole lot more. So then “letting the cat out of the bag” was shedding light on a secret that was usually a dishonest or nefarious one.
Historically, this saying can be traced back further than cowboy times all the way to Medieval England, where agriculture played a central role in daily life. Perhaps it was a warning not to buy livestock from a seller you didn’t know, or just simply check the bag before you leave the merchant. Today, the age-old advice still holds true.
How about you? Have you ever heard this saying before? Used it yourself? Could you see yourself using it now? Let me know in a comment!
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